How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Brilliant

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Take an inflatable seat cushion and be prepared to go with the flow!

Do you have anything else to add?

"A tremendous holiday/expedition. Experienced swimming through Kavac Canyon and later in the pool at the foot of Angel Falls. Traveling the smaller rivers in a large dugout canoe, the skillof the boatmen in shooting rapids ( both up- and down- stream ) was impressive. Later, on the Paragua river, our kit was portaged round the Uraima Falls whilst the Indian crew hauled the 40ft steel canoe over the rocks.

We passed through mining towns with a definite ""wild west "" atmosphere, several lonely settlements on the river banks and eventually spent time with the Shirian Indians at Karaimaken. The ultimate goal of the Ichun Falls was dramatic. A 100ft waterfall the colour of ""best bitter""  with a head on it! The nearby sandy beach where we camped gave a Caribbean feel to the scenery."

 

I’ve been back in the UK for a few days now and have had time to reflect on everything I saw and experienced on this trip; this is not a holiday, it is an adventure.  The trip is very much a two partner; Angel Falls then a quick break in Canaima before heading off to meet our Shirian hosts.  My trip ran with just 4 travellers … this had its advantages and disadvantages … but as the only female I was privileged to be invited by the ladies of the Shirian Tribe to participate in water and wood collecting duties and I joined them to bathe … these opportunities were definitely highlights and hold very special memories for me.  The challenge of this holiday is not about fitness … it’s about getting back to basics … you bathe in the river (take biodegradable soap!), there are no toilets, there are lots of bugs, food varies from great to tolerable …. but Michael our leader really did try and welcomed all advice and assistance!  The benefits of doing this tour are immeasurable.  Stunning scenery, massive skies, the warmth of the people you will meet, the smiles of the villagers once they begin to trust you, the remoteness … which even now when I think about it blows my mind, the sense of adventure and the chance to experience a way of life and living that is so far removed from what we are used to.  Just don’t leave it too long to experience it.  You will spend a lot of time in a boat and you will get wet, but the more rain there is the better the view of Angel Falls. Your clothes will probably remain damp for much of the trip; and when you do manage to get clean you will immediately lather up with sun protection cream or Deet!  You will sleep in hammocks … watch the demonstration and you will sleep soundly!  You will admire the skills of the boatmen, you may get scared (I did!) when experiencing the rapids for the first time; the walk behind the waterfall was terrifying … but absolutely worth it!!    My favourite location was Ichun Falls … it was the most remote and the most basic camping; the weather was glorious … and it was evident that the Falls were rarely visited by tourists (Google images … I only found one photo!!)  We camped very close to the Falls; an advantage of being such a small group.  I chose not to walk up to the lookout point with our guides (I took the opportunity to spend some time on my own …there is no door to shut at the end of the day … you all sleep side by side in your hammocks …. there is little/no privacy on this trip!) but my fellow travellers described the view as ‘awesome’; rain forest for as far as the eye could see!  Dinner was cooked on fire wood collected from the beach … we drank rum and were amazed at the stars in the sky … the biggest skies I have ever seen!  The noise of the jungle after we all went to bed was unbelievable and it was so exciting to be in proper wilderness … it makes my skin tingle just thinking about it.  Every day something special happened; I look back at my photos and cannot quite believe what I see.  I have a long wish list of Explore holidays…. I don’t think any of them come close to offering what this trip delivered.  The trip notes explain what you will do, but do not explain what you will feel or what you will experience. I would happily do this trip again.   PS  Explore notes give an indication of gifts to take to the village …. The girls especially liked the necklaces and lipsticks which they use to decorate their faces … take big fish hooks not tiny ones that I took …. I left a pile of clothes and flip flops which were snapped up … the children maybe miss out on discarded clothes of travellers so maybe a few clothes suitable for them …and if budget allows I think they’d appreciate a pair of binoculars… mine were extremely popular with all members of the tribe! ( BVZ - 23rd July 2011)